Movable Antenna-Aided Cooperative ISAC Network with Time Synchronization error and Imperfect CSI

Cooperative-integrated sensing and communication (C-ISAC) networks have emerged as promising solutions for communication and target sensing. However, imperfect channel state information (CSI) estimation and time synchronization (TS) errors degrade performance, affecting communication and sensing accuracy. This paper addresses these challenges {by employing} {movable antennas} (MAs) to enhance C-ISAC robustness. We analyze the impact of CSI errors on achievable rates and introduce a hybrid Cramer-Rao lower bound (HCRLB) to evaluate the effect of TS errors on target localization accuracy. Based on these models, we derive the worst-case achievable rate and sensing precision under such errors. We optimize cooperative beamforming, {base station (BS)} selection factor and MA position to minimize power consumption while ensuring accuracy. {We then propose a} constrained deep reinforcement learning (C-DRL) approach to solve this non-convex optimization problem, using a modified deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm with a Wolpertinger architecture for efficient training under complex constraints. {Simulation results show that the proposed method significantly improves system robustness against CSI and TS errors, where robustness mean reliable data transmission under poor channel conditions.} These findings demonstrate the potential of MA technology to reduce power consumption in imperfect CSI and TS environments.

Detecting Unauthorized Drones with Cell-Free Integrated Sensing and Communication

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) boosts network efficiency by using existing resources for diverse sensing applications. In this work, we propose a cell-free massive MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output)-ISAC framework to detect unauthorized drones while simultaneously ensuring communication requirements. We develop a detector to identify passive aerial targets by analyzing signals from distributed access points (APs). In addition to the precision of the sensing, timeliness of the sensing information is also crucial due to the risk of drones leaving the area before the sensing procedure is finished. We introduce the age of sensing (AoS) and sensing coverage as our sensing performance metrics and propose a joint sensing blocklength and power optimization algorithm to minimize AoS and maximize sensing coverage while meeting communication requirements. Moreover, we propose an adaptive weight selection algorithm based on concave-convex procedure to balance the inherent trade-off between AoS and sensing coverage. Our numerical results show that increasing the communication requirements would significantly reduce both the sensing coverage and the timeliness of the sensing. Furthermore, the proposed adaptive weight selection algorithm can provide high sensing coverage and reduce the AoS by 45% compared to the fixed weights, demonstrating efficient utilization of both power and sensing blocklength.

Intelligent Surface Assisted Radar Stealth Against Unauthorized ISAC

The integration of radar sensors and communication networks as envisioned for the 6G wireless networks poses significant security risks, e.g., the user position information can be released to an unauthorized dual-functional base station (DFBS). To address this issue, we propose an intelligent surface (IS)-assisted radar stealth technology that prevents adversarial sensing. Specifically, we modify the wireless channels by tuning the phase shifts of IS in order to protect the target user from unauthorized sensing without jeopardizing the wireless communication link. In principle, we wish to maximize the distortion between the estimated angle-of-arrival (AoA) by the DFBS and the ground truth given the minimum signal-to-noise-radio (SNR) constraint for communication. Toward this end, we propose characterizing the problem as a game played by the DFBS and the IS, in which the DFBS aims to maximize a particular utility while the IS aims to minimize the utility. Although the problem is nonconvex, this paper shows that it can be optimally solved in closed form from a geometric perspective. According to the simulations, the proposed closed-form algorithm outperforms the baseline methods significantly in combating unauthorized sensing while limiting the impacts on wireless communications.

On the Rate-Exponent Region of Integrated Sensing and Communications With Variable-Length Coding

This paper considers the achievable rate-exponent region of integrated sensing and communication systems in the presence of variable-length coding with feedback. This scheme is fundamentally different from earlier studies, as the coding methods that utilize feedback impose different constraints on the codewords. The focus herein is specifically on the Gaussian channel, where three achievable regions are analytically derived and numerically evaluated. In contrast to a setting without feedback, we show that a trade-off exists between the operations of sensing and communications.

Sum Rate Enhancement using Machine Learning for Semi-Self Sensing Hybrid RIS-Enabled ISAC in THz Bands

This paper proposes a novel semi-self sensing hybrid reconfigurable intelligent surface (SS-HRIS) in terahertz (THz) bands, where the RIS is equipped with reflecting elements divided between passive and active elements in addition to sensing elements. SS-HRIS along with integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) can help to mitigate the multipath attenuation that is abundant in THz bands. In our proposed scheme, sensors are configured at the SS-HRIS to receive the radar echo signal from a target. A joint base station (BS) beamforming and HRIS precoding matrix optimization problem is proposed to maximize the sum rate of communication users while maintaining satisfactory sensing performance measured by the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for estimating the direction of angles of arrival (AoA) of the echo signal and thermal noise at the target. The CRB expression is first derived and the sum rate maximization problem is formulated subject to communication and sensing performance constraints. To solve the complex non-convex optimization problem, deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG)-based deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm is proposed, where the reward function, the action space and the state space are modeled. Simulation results show that the proposed DDPG-based DRL algorithm converges well and achieves better performance than several baselines, such as the soft actor-critic (SAC), proximal policy optimization (PPO), greedy algorithm and random BS beamforming and HRIS precoding matrix schemes. Moreover, it demonstrates that adopting HRIS significantly enhances the achievable sum rate compared to passive RIS and random BS beamforming and HRIS precoding matrix schemes.

$SE(3)$-Based Trajectory Optimization and Target Tracking in UAV-Enabled ISAC Systems

This paper introduces a novel approach to enhance the performance of UAV-enabled integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems. By integrating uniform planar arrays (UPAs) and modeling the UAV as a rigid body using $SE(3)$, the study addresses key challenges in existing ISAC frameworks, such as rigid-body dynamics and trajectory design. We propose a target tracking scheme based on extended Kalman filtering (EKF) in $SE(3)$ and trajectory optimization from a control signal design perspective, leveraging the conditional Posterior Cramer-Rao bound (CPCRB) to optimize performance. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving target tracking and trajectory optimization for a UAV-enabled MIMO-OFDM ISAC system.

Joint Optimization of Geometric and Probabilistic Constellation Shaping for OFDM-ISAC Systems

6G communications systems are expected to integrate radar-like sensing capabilities enabling novel use cases. However, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) introduces a trade-off between communications and sensing performance because the optimal constellations for each task differ. In this paper, we compare geometric, probabilistic and joint constellation shaping for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-ISAC systems using an autoencoder (AE) framework. We first derive the constellation-dependent detection probability and propose a novel loss function to include the sensing performance in the AE framework. Our simulation results demonstrate that constellation shaping enables a dynamic trade-off between communications and sensing. Depending on whether sensing or communications performance is prioritized, geometric or probabilistic constellation shaping is preferred. Joint constellation shaping combines the advantages of geometric and probabilistic shaping, significantly outperforming legacy modulation formats.

Optimal User and Target Scheduling, User-Target Pairing, and Low-Resolution Phase-Only Beamforming for ISAC Systems

We investigate the joint user and target scheduling, user-target pairing, and low-resolution phase-only beamforming design for integrated sensing and communications (ISAC). Scheduling determines which users and targets are served, while pairing specifies which users and targets are grouped into pairs. Additionally, the beamformers are designed using few-bit constant-modulus phase shifts. This resource allocation problem is a nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP) and challenging to solve. To address it, we propose an exact mixed-integer linear program (MILP) reformulation, which leads to a globally optimal solution. Our results demonstrate the superiority of an optimal joint design compared to heuristic stage-wise approaches, which are highly sensitive to scenario characteristics.

Integrated Long-range Sensing and Communications in Multi Target Scenarios using CP-OFDM

6G communication systems promise to deliver sensing capabilities by utilizing the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication signal for sensing. However, the cyclic prefix inherent in OFDM systems limits the sensing range, necessitating compensation techniques to detect small, distant targets like drones. In this paper, we show that state-of-the-art coherent compensation methods fail in scenarios involving multiple targets, resulting in an increased noise floor in the radar image. Our contributions include a novel multi target coherent compensation algorithm and a generalized signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio for multiple targets to evaluate the performance. Our algorithm achieves the same detection performance at long distances requiring only 3.6% of the radio resources compared to classical OFDM radar processing. This enables resource efficient sensing at long distances in multi target scenarios with legacy communications-only networks.

CDMA/OTFS Sensing Outperforms Pure OTFS at the Same Communication Throughput

There is a dearth of publications on the subject of spreading-aided Orthogonal Time Frequency Space (OTFS) solutions, especially for Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), even though Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) assisted multi-user OTFS (CDMA/OTFS) exhibits tangible benefits. Hence, this work characterises both the communication Bit Error Rate (BER) and sensing Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) performance of CDMA/OTFS, and contrasts them to pure OTFS. Three CDMA/OTFS configurations are considered: Delay Code Division Multiple Access OTFS (Dl-CDMA/OTFS), Doppler Code Division Multiple Access OTFS (Dp-CDMA/OTFS), and Delay Doppler Code Division Multiple Access OTFS (DD-CDMA/OTFS), which harness direct sequence spreading along the delay axis, Doppler axis, and DD domains respectively. For each configuration, the performance of Gold, Hadamard, and Zadoff-Chu sequences is investigated. The results demonstrate that Zadoff-Chu Dl-CDMA/OTFS and DD-CDMA/OTFS consistently outperform pure OTFS sensing, whilst maintaining a similar communication performance at the same throughput. The extra modulation complexity of CDMA/OTFS is similar to that of other OTFS multi-user methodologies, but the demodulation complexity of CDMA/OTFS is lower than that of some other OTFS multi-user methodologies. CDMA/OTFS sensing can also consistently outperform OTFS sensing whilst not requiring any additional complexity for target parameter estimation. Therefore, CDMA/OTFS is an appealing candidate for implementing multi-user OTFS ISAC.